Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                  2-16-1999

The Law of Moses

TEXT: Colossians 2:14-17

INTRODUCTION:

   -- The fundamental law is recorded in Exodus 20
       It is the basis for all the law.

   -- Details of the law are found in the Book of Deuteronomy.

   -- Although Christians are under GRACE and NOT the LAW,
       EVERY righteous & moral principle of the Law of Moses is taught in the N.T. (Romans 6:14-15)

       Bible-believing Christians have NO license to sin.

I. What the Law Was. 

  A. An Expression of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God 
     His Disapproval of Sin in Man (Romans 5:13; 2:12-13) 

  B. A Standard for Right & Wrong. 

  -- It was wrong for Cain to kill Abel but their was no law that said so til 
the Law of Moses 
     The law spelled it out.

  -- Their are & must be ABSOLUTES. 

  Illustration: Traffic Stoplights: Red means stop
                                    Green means go
                Traffic tickets keep us (violaters) in check.

   C. An Expression of the HOLINESS of God (Romans 7:12)

II. Why the Law Was Given.

   A. Because of TRANSGRESSIONS (Galatians 3:19) 

     
  -- The law points out people's sins.
       It shows people how to live.
       It shows people how to obey Him.

   B. To be a SCHOOLMASTER (Galatians 3:24)

   -- The law TEACHES us the NEED for salvation.
   -- The law TUTORS us.

   C. To MAKE SIN KNOWN (Romans 7:7; 3:20)

III. The Law Was NOT Given That Men Might Obtain Life Thru Keeping It.

   A. Impossible for Any Law to Give Life (Galatians 3:21)

   -- The law makes people realize their sin.

   B. NO Man Ever Kept the Law Perfectly (Romans 8:7-8; I Kings 8:46; Ecc. 7:20)

   C. Christ Came to Do What the Law Could NOT Do (Romans 8:3)

   D. Lawful Use of the Law (I Timothy 1:8-11)

IV. The Law Was a Ministration of Death

   (II Corinthians 3:6-11) 

  -- The law places the LOST under the sentence of death.
       They are GUILTY sinners.
       They are CONDEMNED ALREADY.

   -- See Hebrews 8:13

V. The Law Was Done Away

   (Colossians 2:14-17; II Corinthians 3:9-11)

   -- The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was & is far SUPERIOR to the O.T. system of sacrifices.

   -- When the Jews nailed Jesus to the cross they drove the nails into their own law.

VI. If the Believer Is Not Under the Law of Moses, Is He Without the Law?

   A. He is Under "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:3)

   B. He Has a New Priest--an Heavenly (Hebrews 7:11-12)

   -- The O.T. animal sacrifices had to be repeated over & over again.

   -- Christ's sacrifice was offered ONCE & for ALL persons.
        It offers TOTAL & PERMANENT forgiveness.

VII. Our Motive for Doing Right Without Being Under the Law. 

  A. The LOVE of God Motivates the Child of God. 
     It is the Law of Love (John 14:23-24; 14:15) 

  B. Love is the Fulfilling of the Law. 
     (Romans 13:10; James 2:8-9; Gal. 5:14)

  C. The Keeping of the Law Never Caused Any to Love God, 
     But the Indwelling Spirit Sheds God's Love in the Heart Thru the New 
     Birth (Romans 5:5)

CONCLUSION:

   -- REVIEW the 7 points.

   -- Praise the Lord that He sent His Son to die in our place.

   -- The joy of being SET FREE from the law of sin & death.

   -- The joy & peace of KNOWING ALL your sins have been forgiven forever.